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With apologies for cross-postings:
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Archaeology Projects at the National
Endowment for the Humanities:
Past, Present and Future
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FY 1997 DEADLINE: SEPT. 1, 1996
I. PAST
In the 30 years since the founding of the Endowment, NEH has
given 575 grants to over 300 archaeologists in 158 institutions for
work conducted in over 28 countries world-wide. During this period,
archaeological projects received a total of $16.5 million in
outright funds and $17 million in federal matching funds for
fieldwork, analysis, and publication. The projects have in common
a focus on interpretation of archaeological data and what it means
to be human in complex physical and social environments. Topics
supported include domestication of plants and animals and the
social consequences of domestication in the Old World and the New
World; development of chiefdoms; rise of civilization; the impact
of colonial expansion; rural life in complex societies; slavery;
long-distance trade; religion and ideology; metal technology and
development; and others. Excavated and surveyed sites range from
world-class monuments (Abydos, Athenian Agora, Carthage, Corinth,
Monticello, Pompeii, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Teotihuacan, Tikal,
Vijayanagara) to rural towns and villages, rockshelters and camp
sites, sanctuaries and cemeteries in the U.S. and abroad.
The distribution of projects is primarily in five areas of the
world:
No. of
Area PI's Grants Outright $ Matching $
U.S. 73 110 $4,942,124 $2,427,218
Near East 75 139 $3,372,215 $4,447,363
Classical
& Preclassical 68 161 $2,772,563 $5,710,850
Mesoamerica 26 45 $1,675,839 $1,613,016
South America 13 20 $ 431,594 $ 310,045
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No single approach or discipline characterizes the projects or
participants: they are as diverse as the current universe of
archaeologists. In 30 years of project grants, project directors
have come from the following disciplinary departments:
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Dept. No. of Grants
Anthropology 216
Classics 133
Art History 70
NE Studies 48
History 45
Other 63
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II. PRESENT
Until FY 1996, the annual budget for the Archaeology Projects
Program was approximately $600,000 to $800,000 in outright funds
and about $1 million in federal matching funds. Approximately 20
new grants were awarded each year. In 1996, the Congress slashed
the agency budget by 37% and the Archaeology Projects Program
deadline was suspended for the year. The program itself was then
absorbed into a new Collaborative Research Projects Program. (The
on-going archaeology projects are being funded for their matching
component with the reduced FY 1996 budget.) Although the FY 1996
budget battle was lost and the annual archaeology competition did
not take place, the outlook for the FY 1997 is somewhat more
optimistic. Unless something unforeseen happens, a competition
will take place and funds will be available in 1997.
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III. FUTURE =
The good news is that the archaeology projects will be
accepted into the general Collaborative Research Program. The bad
news is that the Collaborative Research Program will consist of
proposals that would have gone to six separate programs
(Archaeology, Translations, Conferences, Editions, Humanities
Studies of Science and Technology, and Basic Research) and the
projected budget is somewhat smaller than what would have been
spent on archaeology alone. The success rate for archaeology
projects will probably drop from 1:5 to 1:10 (the current rate of
success in the fellowships program). =
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However, the money exists (presumably).
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If you don't apply, you won't get funded.
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If archaeologists do not apply in large numbers, the odds in
favor of continued funding for archaeology will be considerably
reduced.
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To improve your chances of getting funded, do the following:
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1. Call the program officer, Dr. John Meredith, 202/606-8218,
e-mail: [log in to unmask], and ask for the guidelines,
the latest information on the budget, and evaluation
process.
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2. Look at a successful grant in your field. Ask for the
list of funded projects for the last three years,
chose a project then ask John Meredith to send you the
proposal.
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3. Talk to people who have had NEH grants and get their
advice. (See above to find out who has had a grant.)
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4. Write a preliminary draft and have it read by the program
officer (John Meredith) and/or a friendly but critical
colleague, preferably one who has served on a panel or
received a grant. Pay very close attention to the
guidelines and elements for evaluation when writing.
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5. Don't ask for too much money. Ask John Meredith for
advice on how much to ask for. If you are asking for
matching funds, try to get your donors lined up in
advance. It makes a good impression. However, remember
it is NOT necessary to have the matching money in
advance. You only need to identify potential donors and
sources.
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6. Write your congressman/woman to express your opinion on
this issue. And remember to vote.
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Bonnie Magness-Gardiner
Former Program Officer for Archaeology Projects
[log in to unmask]
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